Helping to Sate a Rising Need

Amid Economic Woes, More Seek Meal, Aid at Holiday Event

Andie Green seemed uncomfortable yesterday. The 24-year-old woman darted in an out of line at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, where she was waiting for an early Thanksgiving meal.

She was surrounded by people standing patiently with plastic bags filled with nonperishable food, clothing and other free items as part of Safeway's ninth annual Feast of Sharing.

"I am staying in a shelter right now," she said, "and because our electricity just cut off, we will have to have our Thanksgiving meal here.

"I have never done this before."

She'd never been in a shelter, she said, or stood in line for donated food.

Maj. Steve Morris, area commander for the Salvation Army, said his organization has been overwhelmed by people seeking assistance for the first time. A result, he said he thought, of the economic downturn, which has also affected how much there is to give.

"We are seeing right now about a 20 percent drop in our donations and a 30 percent increase in our need to provide services to people," Morris said. "This is not a Christmas issue. This is an economic issue that will continue into next year. We are doing everything in our budget to try to do more with less."

Safeway officials said more than 5,000 people dined yesterday, up by more than 1,000 from last year.

D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) wasn't surprised.

"Unfortunately, it is a sign of the times about the growing numbers of people who are in need, who are loosing their jobs and who need our help," he said.

People waited in a line that stretched beyond a block to enter the great hall of the convention center. Once inside, they were served turkey, greens, candied yams, mashed potatoes and rolls. Volunteers then served sweet potato or apple pie with a whipped topping.

Gray, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and several members of the D.C. Council joined the volunteers from the Salvation Army, Metropolitan Baptist Church of the District, SunTrust Bank, Centerplate/NBSE and other groups.